Exactly what I've been looking for! So glad I found your blog. The advice given in your posts and in the comments will be invaluable to me throughout my life. (Which will hopefully be very long and very much involving writing and exploring the stories swimming in my brain.)

Nathan, Thanks for such a great resource. What do you think about this idea…

Author, Tricia Cohn started a storytime experiment on Twitter. All we need are creative writers to add their own line to the story. To read the facebook story visit: http://storytimeexperiment.blogspot.com.

Everyone has a story to share. Share yours, 1 comment at a time. Follow @storyexperiment on Twitter.

I need to go through this list but from yesterday's, the "said" hyperlink was well worth revisiting (which I point out to other writers in the midst of their m.s. who maybe thinking about this … as I am!)

I read (screenplays – lots and lots of them) which are not books but presentation counts for a lot. of course, the people who most need to go though this won't, and though it may seem like basic stuff, putting the extra effort into polishing your m.s. is key, in my humble opinion.

That said, I read the "are you sure you want to genre hop?" again, and YES, I DO!!!

*sigh*

Someone asked me what bookshelf my work would be on the other day, and I replied with 'I'd like it to be in and amongst Margaret Atwood, Walter Tevis, and Kazuo Ishiguro.' The erotica writer I was talking to replied with "Uh, yeah, I'd love that, too, but I don't write like they do. No one takes erotica seriously."

That got me thinking, because this was my knee-jerk response to an off-the-cuff question. What I like about these writers is NOT that they are amazing writers, but that their stories are very human and surprise me with their beauty. These writers will also have the balls to write science fiction and do it well on the heels of their other amazing work which is not SciFi in nature.

Walter Tevis wrote The Color of Money, which was amazing, but he also wrote The Man Who Fell to Earth. Margaret Atwood can write Oryx and Crake and the Handmaid's Tale set in a post-apocalyptic future, but that doesn't stop her from writing about 3 jilted women in The Robber Bride. And as for Ishiguro, how different in subject are The Remains of the Day and Never let me Go? VERY different.

These are the people whom I emulate. Their stories illustrate the beauty and pain of humanity. How can I not wish to be like them? How can I not strive for such perfection, regardless of genre?

Of course, they follow EVERY OTHER RULE you've listed here, so I suppose if you must genre hop, be perfect in every other way, eh?

Ok, I LOVED reading "The limits of Verisimilitude." I didn't know what the word meant, so I thought to look into it. The post was awesome. It confirmed that maybe my premise might just stand out, and now I am definitely writing with the intent of giving the world some, "crazy rap fiction."

This is going to be super helpful! Now I can check this post first to look for your previous posts instead of back clicking through the blog for ages or trying to google whatever I'm looking for. Thanks!

Nathan. Last post for me today. I'm just excited about the idea of you writing a book.

And no, this isn't some intense sucking up. I'm getting this tingly feeling I get when I talk to someone about possiblities.

The thing is, if you wrote a book, it could not only get some really useful information out there – just think of all the authors it would reach – but it could help with the role of the agent in the coming technology shift.

You could talk about e-books, mainstream publishing, self-publishing, what an agent does. The image of the agent.

You could make it a compliation of many agents, but frankly, I like your voice the best.

I think it would find a definite market – so many people want to write a book, and wonder about agents.

Heck, I'd rep it myself, but I'm not sure I have the right contacts for you. You might know a person or two though that you could speak to about the idea, if it interests you.

I'm with Kristi, Precie, Mira, and Other Lisa – all this awesome info would make a must-have book! Even though I've bookmarked today's post, I'd still buy the book. I may own a Sony e-reader, but I'm still one of those old-fashioned gals that like to hold a book in their hot little hands (and then proceed to ravage it with dog-ears, day-glo highlights, you name it).

Anyhoo, I know it's been said a gazillion times already today (and on countless other days), but you really are a groovy guy – thanks for taking the time to guide us eager writers along the nebulous path to publishing success!

I'm at a place with my writing where your Ten Commandments for a Happy Writer called to me. So I read it. I'm pleased to say that I already do most of the things you listed and appreciate the firm reminders about the rest.

You could compile these into your own book, Nathan. All you have to do is write a snarky, 250-word intro for each of the five sections and you're ready to proceed to proposal. Of course, first you'll have to find an agent.

I don't know about Nathan compiling his blog into a book. He has a post on the subject and makes the fantastic recommendation that if the blog does not gain anything, if it's not better for being in print, then it's probably not a good idea.

Yes, he has a treasure trove of helpful posts, but I would argue that the best thing about lurking in Nathan's blog is the wild array of commentary, idea exchanges, opinions, and even the battles taking place in the comments. This is a community, a reality tv show, with a soul of its own. Amidst all the chatter, capturing the soul in printed pages would be a prodigious challenge and I don't think it would come close to the real thing.

String me up for contrariness, but I assert that a book, however useful, would be worse than the living (free) blog.

Please don't consider my comment negative. All I'm saying is that if Mark Twain had followed Elmore Leonard's "Rules of Writing," then The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn would never have been written.

Nathan's advice is the right advice if you want to try to make a living as a writer. If you're writing because you're reaching for something tangentially–something between the bounds of truth and fiction and you're trying to share that journey–you're not going to get there worrying over genre tropes and the sins of creative dialog tagging.

Dearth – I've got to say that a 'How to' book which even attempted to distill the essence of this Blog would be a much more attractive read than the ones currently available.Having said that I wouldn't be reading the book at this time of night (UK) when trying to plan for an observed lesson (for the day job)!

Dear Nathan: Can you help? In April of last year I sent an agent a query; she did not wish to see book but recommended I send query to agent at her agency; never heard from 2nd woman. Now the agency has a new person who I think might be a good fit. Will I be breaking protocol if I send 3rd person a query? I am trying to avoid no-no of saying to an agent, 'Hey I sent this to this other agent at your firm and heard nothing, so I'm sending it to you.' What do you think?Thank you.

Haha, I meant 'gangsta rap fiction'…that's what I get for trying to write a comment in the last thirty seconds of my lunch break. Hmmmm. What about 'crazy gangsta rap fiction?' Maybe my fairies will live for rap instead of raves. Or both. Fairies fighting the system.

Giggle. All sorts of funniness going on in my head right now. Sigh. And I can't even share it.

Well, Nathan, I'm think I'm actually going to use this idea in my novel. Thanks for the inspiration!

When I was reading this, I was thinking, "I love this guy!" I look forward to your blog everyday and always learn something new. When I'm frustrated or being lazy these blogs help me choose to get back on the right path. And now I have this resource page to help me every step of the way. As usual, thanks!🙂

A post I'd love to see: would you please compile a list of books in each "genre"? I don't live in the US, so maybe this list would be easy for me to figure out on my own on a trip back, but I always have trouble wrapping my head about exactly what is considered what. I'd appreciate it!

I have your blog on the sidebar of my own for a couple of months now, and I've been reading your words of wisdom, as well as the insightful (and amusing) comments from everyone every time you put up a new post.

Thanks for this compilation. It so rocks. Like, totally. May the Eternal Monkeys smile upon you.

What a great post. I'd like to send this to every writer I know. In fact, I think I'll post a link on my creative writing class board. Nathan, your blog is a really an asset to up and comers. You are a good egg. Maybe you should publish a book of your own on this stuff!

No worries Eric! I actually thought your response was pretty thoughtful by the way. Wanting to write and wanting to learn enough about publishing to actually get published are two different things, ya know?

I have finished my first work, and am worried about factual information. What is the deal with real sports team names, tv shows, song titles and celeb names? I can't find a solid answer anywhere, and this site seems to be pretty honest and upfront. Thank you in advance!!! I have not done an official copyright or sent to an agent yet because of these issues.

wow…. thanks Nathan… this will be my new favorite place on you blog in the coming months I'm sure…

I actually came to the Writing Advice section of your blog, hoping to find some peace of mind on a question that has been nagging me for the past few weeks…. naturally I gravitated to "Staying Sane During the Publication Process", where I read the "10 Commandments for the Happy Writer" with glee, and hoped that if you had a chance you could lend some more advice for me.

I have just finished my first novel and am in the throes of passionate and merciless revision. I have started a blog to chronicle the direction my life is taking as I seek to find publication and continue with my writing, as well as all the other joys life brings….like friends, family and coffee.

I have been told by a friend of mine, who once worked in the literary world, that this blog will hinder my chances of finding a literary agent and publication, and that I should carefully consider mixing my personal world with my professional one. I wasn't hoping for the blog to help my chances of publication, but I don't want it to create any additional obstacles for me either.

Am I shooting myself in the foot by writing about my quest for publication? Or is she just being a good, albeit overly cautious, friend?

I know you are a busy guy with a wonderful blog of your own, but any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

Every person who is in blog writing has got his own style. With bloggers coming from different cultural backgrounds, different styles of blogging are not a surprise. One can always improve on his writing skills and be more popular amongst the viewers. There might be a lot of writers writing blogs, however only creative bloggers are the ones who are successful. With more creativity in writing, it is certain that a blogger will attract more subscribers to his blog. Now the big question is "How to be creative while writing a blog?"

I love this blog! One thing I've always wondered – and am currently trying to navigate – is the crit partner relationship. How to find them? Where to find them? How do you know they're the 'right' crit partner for your book (and not that just don't agree with what they're saying)?

I don't know if you have a blog about this or could point me in the right direction? I've always found this to be one of the trickiest parts of finding the right feedback.

Just discovered your blog at Dawn's Tales from the Motherland! Congratulations on such a wonderful resource for writers…and human beings in general.:) I'm following you on Twitter and will bookmark your page.

I have been looking everywhere for correct formatting advice. I heard Garamond 24 was best because that's what typesetter's liked when formatting your manuscript. Glad to have found the real deal here on your website!! Thank you!!

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About Nathan

Hi, I’m Nathan. I’m the author of How to Write a Novel and the Jacob Wonderbar series, which was published by Penguin. I used to be a literary agent at Curtis Brown Ltd. and I’m dedicated to helping authors chase their dreams.